October 6, 2014

23 PRRS outbreaks reported in India

Twenty-three outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) have been reported in India between May 2013 and April 2014, the Indian Ministry of Agriculture has told the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The agriculture ministry said these 23 clinical outbreaks of PRRS Type 2 took place in the states of Mizoram, Assam, Manipur, Meghalya and Nagaland, all of which are in north-east India.

All of the affected pigs in Meghalaya were kept on farms but the others were in village herds. Of the 32,675 animals involved, 913 showed symptoms; 73 died and 840 were destroyed.

The report includes a comment that random sero-surveillance is ongoing, with 24,991 samples tested so far. No clinical cases have been recorded till now. However, during sero-surveillance, sero-positive animals are being detected and control measures are being followed, the ministry said.